Every once in awhile I happen upon an article about money or blogging that really gets me fired up. And then I get fired up enough to write my feelings/opinions about said article. Over the weekend I read a piece from Bitch Magazine, about how lifestyle blogs are potentially hazardous. I wanted to focus on the article, because I do agree with the author, and this is something that has been nagging at me for awhile. “Lifestyle” blogs are dangerous for two reasons a) I think they promote a culture of “comparisonitis” and fear women look at these blogs and feel “less than” and b) they glamorize a return to blissful domesticity and housewifery that we haven’t seen in…well, awhile. You may have already read my rant-filled piece on what I think about fashion blogs , and if you enjoyed that then you are in for a treat today. If you did not like it, then just buckle up and bear with me.
I’m not talking about every single lifestyle site out there, but you know the kind I am talking about: polka dots in their web design, usually a picture of the blogger with her husband (even though he never has anything to do with the blog), at least ten references to said “hubs” in each post, and they gush about how much fun it is to stay at home, vacuum, and can preserves. I kid, I kid. More so than that these blogs seem to promote a sort of stepford-eque housewife stereotype, what the author of the Bitch article, Holly Hilgenberg, describes as “conventionally attractive, straight, happy white women with beautiful homes, playful children, and quirky recipes”. Total up the sum of these parts and you have “…an accumulation of such choices promotes a homogeneous narrative indistinguishable from those that have come before.” What if you don’t fit into those categories? Is your life any less beautiful?
There is nothing wrong with having a blog and expressing your satisfaction with your own life, I believe that joy is meant to be shared and blogging is a great medium for that. I’m sure staying at home is amazing, f***, I would love to stay home all day, but the feminist in me rallies against that sh!t. If I was just going to stay at home and garden in my backyard, why bother going to college and accumulating student loan debt? Why bother even stabbing at a career in the first place? The instagram-ed photos of the exquisite house and happy children make a very strong case for a beautiful, simpler kind of life than the one I’m living now. Still, if any young woman I personally know were to say “I’m just going to get married and be a lifestyle blogger after college” they’d be laughed out of the room. Enough women (married and single alike) are reading these blogs so it must be something many women idolize. Staying at home and rearing children is one of the most difficult and noblest professions (from what I’ve seen and heard). Why are you touting it as a design-filled vacation?
Often times, when I initially tell people about my blog, people roll their eyes and assume it is a daily post about my dog, my life, or what projects I’m doing around the house. Some lifestyle bloggers, at least the ones who aren’t very good at it, give the rest of us a bad name.
These blogs make it clear that most women enjoy what I call “the fluff”. Don’t get me wrong, I spend as much time on pinterest as the next lady dreaming about my future spouse, future house, future kids. It’s escapism and it is fun. In addition to this, lifestyle blogs offer a voyeurs dream, a peek at what is is like to be a fly on a wall. That impulse can be nearly impossible to resist, which leads me to my other point: I don’t read lifestyle blogs because they make me want. It could be a throw pillow, or man, or a cupcake, but I try to avoid such sites the way I avoid magazines. If I see a beautiful picture whether it be online or in a magazine, I am going to want. Period. And it doesn’t matter when I want something if I can afford the object of my desire or not; I either buy it, which is bad for my wallet, or feel sad I can’t have it, which is bad for my self-esteem. And then I eat something. It’s just how I work.
Better still, I am a single, childless woman, with an up-and-coming blog that keeps me busy, and I don’t even have my life as together as some of these women with their Anthropologie outfits and home grown vegetables. It is every woman’s choice as to her occupation whether it be homemaker, lawyer, or Indian Chief. My mom stayed home, and I appreciate it all the time. This is what our feminist forebears fought for: the right for us to choose our own destiny. Still, I think it is dangerous to paint this domestic life for all to see without any substance or thought or insight into the conversations about what went into those decisions. Just as it is in actual life, I doubt it is all sprinkles, Kate Spade, and kittens.
There is another great blog post from NY Mag about how lifestyle bloggers don’t talk about sex . I mean, they’re married right? And yet they never talk about sex. Why do we think that is? Do most women really only care about filling their house with beautiful (and they are always beautiful) items rather than seeking fulfillment in the office or between the sheets? Am I just a minority? Lifestyle blogs make me think so. No wonder we can’t get employers to pay women the same amount a man gets, they probably think all I care about is my crock pot, my biological clock, and what color my curtains are going to be. Too harsh? Hop on the internet and take a whirl.
My friend Carrie LOVES the cooking blog “How Sweet It Is”, she gushed to me about it, and then she talked about how she wanted to see more pictures of the blogger and her messy kitchen, more insight into her life just as it was while she created the recipes she’s become so famous for. True, as money-making bloggers we have to keep the peace between revenue and readers, fashion and lifestyle bloggers most of all. What advertiser wants to sponsor a hot-ass mess? Still, I think many would be surprised to find how much authenticity and honesty blog readers really want these days.
What do you think? Are lifestyle blogs the undoing of the feminism as we know it? Or are they just harmless fun?
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Hi, my name is Lauren but I'm known to those nearest and dearest as L. Bee. After twenty-five years on the planet I have worked in a lot of industries, moved to many different cities, and made almost every money mistake you can make.Join me on my journey as I navigate my twenties and try not to pick my "money tree" bare.
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I don’t think it has anything to do with feminism, it is simple supply and demand.
People (albeit mainly women) want to read about lifestyle things, just like lots of men like looking at cars and women. If you don’t like what these lifestyle websites are writing / displaying then don’t read them. If everyone did this then the vast majority of these sites would disappear. As I said – It’s just supply and demand.
I also don’t see why feminism should come into your being able to “stay home all day”. It’s a lifestyle choice, and these days it has nothing to do with “traditional” roles, but is determined by who earns the most money each week. In fact, I am actively working towards the goal of being a stay at home dad, does that make me any less manly or less of an advocate of women’s rights? Should feminists everywhere hurl abuse at me because I believe it is acceptable for parents (regardless of gender – that includes both men and women) to stay home and look after their kids?
I do agree however, that some of these blogs/websites probably do promote a more traditional family unit than what we now perceive the modern family to look like.
So what?
I’m sure plenty of blogs and websites promote the modern unit over the traditional one. The same as how some websites will promote different religions like Islam or Christianity, or political views like Democrats vs Republicans. There is no right or wrong here, it is all about freedom of CHOICE.
Choice is ultimately what the feminist movement is about, it isn’t about telling women they now have to be different to the women of 50 years ago, it is about liberation, equality and the freedom to choose ones own destiny regardless of gender. If a women wants to stay at home and look after the kids, she can. If she wants to work, she can. Hell, if she wants to vote independent, she can! Let’s stop painting women into a corner, it is starting to feel like women now can’t stay at home even if they wanted to. They now have the additional pressure of worrying about offending feminist extremists and undermining the entire women’s rights movement simply by enacting a lifestyle choice they want to make.
My view on the whole thing is to do what you want, when you want, how you want – f*ck everyone else and what they think! As long as you are happy with your life choices then that is all that matters – this goes for men and women alike!
Also, if someone finds themselves worrying about being “laughed out of the room” for doing something they want to do, then they have bigger problems than worrying about lifestyle blogs and what feminists would think or do. I personally would feel very sorry for that person.
Getting off my high horse now… Sorry about the rant, but I dislike limiting anyone’s freedom of choice regardless of the reasons.
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LOVE this reply. Brilliant.
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I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I can’t say anything Glenn didn’t say. Totally agree. Great post L bee.
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I don’t know – I’m inclined to say that lifestyle blogs aren’t setting anyone back. I’m a few years older than you, which means that when I was in college, blogging wasn’t the way it is now. There was no Pinterest, or Instagram and Facebook didn’t even come to exist until I was almost done with school. We had to put up with *gasp* Friendster.
But there were still women who shared the same dorms, and took some of the same courses, who had no shame in proclaiming that they were there to get their “MRS”, not a BA or BS. They didn’t need to see someone’s pictures of a newly organized bookshelf with blurred edges to know that was the life they wanted to lead.
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I wrote an article earlier on in the summer about a girl from UGA who made a “joke” piece about wanting to get an MRS degree and people bashed her endlessly for it-even though it was phrased questionably enough, I thought she was making a joke. Then people get a little hot under the collar when I am of the opinion SOME lifestyle blogs paint an unrealistic (and unhealthy) portrait of domesticity. It’s just my opinion, people are meant to feel how they want to feel and live as they best see fit.
Haha lifestyle bloggers don’t talk about sex because everybody knows people stop having sex after they get married!
The “setting women back” thing…I have no opinion on that one. And for the record, I would totally want to sponsor a hot-ass mess. Isn’t that what Honey Boo Boo is? There’s a market for it because it makes people feel good about themselves.
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I don’t know about that Kyle. I didn’t start having sex until I was married. So I wasn’t going to start and stop all on the same day!
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LOL!
I’m with Mandy! I just believe my sexual life is nobody’s business or concern, that’s why I don’t put it out there on my blog. I have two kids (and we didn’t find them in a cabbage patch
, and we have healthy monogamous relationships. But it’s boring for other people to hear about 
There’s a subtle difference between a message of “this is what ALL women SHOULD be doing” and “this is MY choice, and I enjoy the hell out of it.” The point is all people (male AND female) should have the choice to do whatever they wish to do regardless of gender, skin color, etc, etc. If someone was to say “you can’t be a stay at home mom and love Pinterest and decorating and all that” then, well….wouldn’t that be reverse feminism?
Haha yes! Yes it would! Good point travis!
I’d have to agree with everyone here so far. I don’t think it sets women back at all. There will always be women making different choices out there, and it’s all about what’s most interesting to you. Lifestyle blogs don’t appeal to me mostly, so I don’t read them. I hope that there are or will be more varied families and bloggers in that category, but I’m sure there’s gotta be some around somewhere?
Great article, I love topics that can get a great conversation going.
Haha yes! Get the conversation started!
No, I don’t think that lifestyle blogs set women back, but I think it’s important to recognize what these ARE. They are lifestyle porn–giving women and men everywhere unrealistic expectations of what their lives should be. But these aren’t the only iterations of lifestyle porn out there.
Think about it…
–Minimalist living blogs are lifestyle porn–”look how I’ve achieved peace and equanimity through getting down to 100 *things*”
–Almost all health blogs are lifestyle porn–”look how much I can work out and eat right because I have all this time on my hands and all the willpower in the world!”
–Travel blogs are definitely lifestyle porn–”look at all the places I can travel and all the amazing experiences I have in my exotic, super-fun life!”
–Cooking blogs are TOTALLY lifestyle porn–”look at all this time I have to cook beautiful, compliacted dishes and how I entertain my friends who come over weekly for talk-of-the-town parties!”
I think the important part is that it IS empowering for some people to see what is possible…in clothes, living, travel, fitness, cooking etc. because it has the potential to bring out the best in ourselves. But if that is at the expense of your wallet or happiness, it is a gift to yourself to stop reading them.
So well put–couldn’t agree more!
My favorite comment of them all, thank you Leah!
I’m in the same boat with the other comments–I don’t think they’re necessarily setting women back, but I can see how they inadvertently (hell, maybe purposely!) promote an unrealistic reality…
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After reading the comments I think perhaps I painted with too broad of a brush when I said they were “dangerous” and “undoing feminism”. I like the way you put it, as promoting an “unrealistic reality”, much better said.
Love this post! I stopped reading a blog written by a woman who apparently had a very leading husband and all posts were ”my hubby this” and ”my hubby that” while she was taking care of the home and 5 kids. The Lord got mentioned a lot too. I believe each one of us has a perfect lifestyle. It may be getting as close to Amish life with a laptop as possible, or running in heels in Manhattan. Those blogs may let you think that you want otherwise, the same was I thought I wanted a big career when I was in business school and then found my happy simple life in Guatemala. Sure I still read blogs about people living that amazing rushed life in big cities, making big bucks and living like kings and sometimes I want that. Then after a week I go back happily to simple and quiet. It took me years to realize that and just like advertising, blogs promote images of a life that you may want but isn’t necessarily for you.
Agreed. Thanks Pauline!
I don’t think they’re setting feminism back at all. I think it’s all about choice – if I want to read about home decor, I’ll read a lifestyle blog. If I want a recipe, I’ll read a food blog. Right now, my RSS feed is mostly comprised if food blogs, personal finance blogs, and humor blogs, because those are the things most important in my life right now. I’m sure once I decide to get married and have kids, I’ll read more wedding and baby blogs.
As you mentioned, the point of feminism is about CHOICE. As long as I know that it’s my choice on how to live my life, feminism has served it’s purpose. Of course it’s a continuing battle, but so are most things that are worth fighting for. I don’t read your blog and think “I must do everything just like L Bee!” because your life is different than mine, and I’ve been taught better than to do something because someone else says I should.
I will admit, though, that when I was your age, I had similar feelings about feminism. I must work and have a career and prove I can do it on my own and provide for myself, etc. etc. etc. because I’m a feminist! I don’t need a man to provide for me! I still feel that way, of course, but the older I get (I’m only 29, but still), the more I find that I really do desire to have kids and stay at home with them, at least for a while. And if I want to work later, or at the same time, or whatever, that’s my choice, not my husband’s. And that’s really all that matters to me, that it’s MY choice.
I think maybe that might be what about this post that has offended some, is that I am 25 and I still feel that way because I don’t have a husband or kids. I appreciate you saying you respect my opinion even though yours is different from mine! Perhaps when I am older, who knows? I never said staying at home and having a blog was sad or pathetic, I merely wished to offer up my opinion and incite some conversation.
Oh, of course not! I didn’t find it offensive at all, but it was definitely thought provoking. You may not change your mind as you get older, and at 25, you have just as much a right to an opinion as anyone else! I didn’t read this and think “oh she’s just young and naive”, because you are most definitely not! I just know that for me, things have changed as I’ve gotten older. I still definitely consider myself a feminist, I think my definition of feminism has just changed, if that makes sense!
“Undoing feminism”… amazing. (and ignorant) I’m a SAHM of 4 and write a “fluff” blog as you’d probably call it… I hardly think i’m “undoing feminism”, (I have been accused of it! lol!!) but hey, if lifestyle bloggers are so awesome that they can lead others “astray” with their homemaking, crock-potting, sewing, mommy blogging ways, then we’re not getting paid *nearly* enough!
I think to each their own, if you don’t like it, don’t read it. Simple right? To me that would make sense… I read all types of blogs, lifestyle, young professional women with no children, and no desire to have any, male finance bloggers, etc… because I truly believe you can learn something from everyone, not just those who are “like you”.
Do lifestyle bloggers really get to you so much that you worry about us leading young and impressionable women into the land of “sprinkles, Kate Spade & kittens” never to be allowed to make their own decisions again? I find it very sad and extremely narrow minded that anyone you know would get laughed out of the room by stating they wanted to stay home & have children. I’m glad i’m not in your circle of friends, what an outcast i’d be!
Oh, and yes, we have sex too. Sometimes even lots of it. But you know what they say, “the ones that always talk about it are the ones never having it.”
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Clearly my post offended you, which was never the intent. I am however, happy you decided to stop by and comment, and send traffic my way from your site yesterday. Contrary to your belief, I do enjoy hearing the opinions of others (even if different from my own). You make some very great, valid, points.
A reader above in the comments said something I should have said and probably would have been less offensive; that SOME, certainly not all lifestyle blogs, portray “unrealistic expectations” of domesticity, and may make others feel less-than (financially and self-esteem wise) in the process. The post wasn’t meant to bash any type of lifestyle you have as a SAHM.
Yes, I was definitely taken back a step or two, as you would have been had I of wrote a post bashing all women who don’t want to be SAHM’s. lol!
I too enjoy reading different opinions, which is why I read your blog.. I think you have a lot to offer.
But yes, not ALL “lifestyle” blogs are written by the so-called “perfect suzy homemaker” and by trying to shove all square pegs into round peg hole, well, it’s just not going to happen. Feel free to read through my blog, I can assure you, I am not “that” homemaker.
There will always be people that deem themselves, or certain lifestyle choices more “important” and “useful” to society… this blog post is a good example of that sadly.
No matter if you’re a SAHM, a career woman, a toilet scrubber in a seniors home, or a burger flipper at the local burger joint, we are all “worth” the same. Every single human is worthy to be valued & respected for what they do, and who they are. Period. We do each other absolutely no good by deeming one person more important or valued higher than another. In todays day and age, I truly believe it is in our best interest to support each other build each other up as much as possible.
In time perhaps you too will see and feel this way.
With age and experience comes wisdom….
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Lifestyle and fashion blogs fit in my life like romance novels. I love to read them but understand that it’s escapism pure and simple. I like to also write about food and fashion too in my blog because I have multiple interests. It’s the fitness blogs that frustrate me!!
I used to have a six pack, now I have a muffin top! I’m just jealous LOL.
I think a lot of lifestyle blogs avoid talking about sex because they don’t want to be pigeon-holed.
It’s a bit of escapism I think, because while they’re fun to look at, I rarely see people try to recreate the food and fashion they see there.
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I don’t know. I definitely think that some blogs have waaaaaay more purpose than others…like some of the ones you describe. Basically, if someone has taken the time to create and write a blog, I respect them. Maybe they are hoping to make some money. Maybe it’s their hobby. Either way, at least they are doing something! I fully support all blogs, even stupid ones!!!!!
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I love this post! Great job! Your last question: are they just harmless fun? I had mixed feelings some time ago about that. It was about life style blogs and/or pf blogs. I was reading a lot of them, looking for inspiration, motivation, ideas how to get out of my own mess. It was bad time in my life and in this short time I got motivation, I got hope again: I can do that, I can achieve that, I can live my life happily like it was described on these blogs. And then I made some mistakes, sometimes life just happened I wanted to do everything right then, achieve everything in a short time. But I wasn’t able to do that. My goals weren’t realistic. My goals were more… you know… pictures taken from pf/life style blogs rarther than from my own life. But know things are different, I realized one thing: don’t follow somebody’s life. Just take power and inspiration from different blogs, just take what works best for you. It really doesn’t have to be everything. So now, blogs are harmless fun and source of knowledge as well. In the past, they weren’t. But it wasn’t the authors’ fault. I could blame only myself for being so blind.
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While I see where you’re coming from in some respects – there are some lifestyle blogs (mostly ones that are monetized or offer the blogger a source of income) that are overly idealized – the ones where you only get the pretty pictured and perfectly worded, thoughtful posts – and yes, those can be dangerous in their own respects. However, take a step back and look at the regular-joe (jane?) blogs – the ones that ramble on, have imperfect pictures and don’t post on a schedule or with affliate links and you can see that they have their benefit. They allow folks – men and women – who have certain likes or lives in common to share with each other. It’s on the regular blogs that you see more honesty – you see posts about nightmare days with children, or struggles in balancing a career; you see posts about the bad days much more than you do on the shiny “perfection brings the most hits for my subcribers” blogs.
As for setting feminism back by showcasing domesticity (and there are plenty of blogs that showcase a young, carefree career woman track) I believe you are looking at it from the viewpoint of only a second or third wave feminist – those who tend to eschew any form of that life. However, there are many women who adhere more to first wave feminism or even what’s be hailed as a “new” or fourth wave feminism who relish the fact that a woman can have access to higher education and a fast track career and still choose domesticity, marriage and motherhood if that’s what she feels called to – because she has a choice and is not being forced one way or the other.
I recommend “Radical Homemakers” by Shannon Hayes if you’d like a look into why so many young feminist are choosing to be homemakers at this point in history. =)
The book also deals with people who use a voluntarially simple lifestyle to “rebel” against norms and about how it is possible to have a quality life without a price tag – but a big section of the book might illuminate why many feminists “rally TOWARDS that sh*t” of staying at home, raising children, gardening, etc.
I remember being about your age (I’m not too much old I believe) and not understanding friends who were “settling down” straight out of college – it’s difficult to understand how anothers choice can be fulfilling when it wouldn’t be to you. Personally – I’ve shifted a complete 180 – I had a career in the arts and am now (though still working) focusing on my family – complete with a blog (to keep in contact with like minded people) and a garden
Both, my time spent in a career and my time spent focusing on my family life rallied the feminist in me – just in different ways and at different points in my life. Incidentally, I feel empowered focusing on my kids in an age where most people believe “there’s an app for that” – it’s my way of fighting the man I guess. But that’s just my 2 cents =)
I did want to clarify that I do get what you’re saying about those big deal lifestyle bloggers though – most of them I can’t read because it’s either all about things or it’s just too fake. But, I (perhaps this is wrong) assume that that is the personae they probably put on in real life too and I wouldn’t hang out with them anyways for that reason. So I try to stick to blogs that are like people I would want to get a cup of coffee with – the ones who offer real advice, admit when things don’t go right, the ones who don’t do everything and the ones who are open about their struggles. Perhaps some of these trends in the bigname lifestyle blog world are pulling us back, but not just women rather the whole of society.
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Pauline and Leah really knocked it out of the ballpark with their comments. My hat is off to you ladies.
I would like to play devil’s advocate and offer some defense for lifestyle bloggers. I’m a mother to three kids (4,3 and 1)and at present *gasp* a stay a home mom. I never planned on being a stay at home mom. I was pretty empowered during college, and even made it clear to Derek when we were engaged that I had no plans on being a “1950′s housewife.” However after trying to do it all I soon discovered I wasn’t doing anything very well. I recently decided to put my career on hold for a little while as my kids needed a full time mom more than the world needed a career minded lady.
I sometimes really struggle to find validation at the end of the day when I feel dog tired but can’t really note any accomplishments made. Take it from me, as someone who has done both, being a mom is definitely harder.
I havn’t been to a lifestyle blog that had a caption, that said “I’m awesome and you’re not.” Sure we may “want” when we see their beautifully designed dining room, but that’s on us, not on them.
The world doesn’t offer too much gratitude for having polite toddlers, and the judgmental glances at the grocery store when you’re hauling your tantrum-ridden three year old out the door doesn’t make us feel any more validated in our decision to commit a portion of our lives to giving or kids the best start possible.
I write my blog to have something for me. At the end of my crazy day I feel some gratitude when someone new has found my blog and wrote a kind comment about something I posted. Maybe these lifestyle bloggers are just the same. My drug may be personal finance, but then if you saw my house you’d know why I didn’t blog about home design
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Although I am not married, I am in a serious relationship. I would never write about my sex life on the internet out of respect for myself, my significant other, and the sancitity of what goes on between us. I have found that once I start gossiping and ‘selling out’ about my own sex life, it ceases to be truly fulfilling and satisfying, and it becomes hurtful and trite. It’s too….important to talk about. Just my perspective; I am sure not everyone has found this to be true.
You know when you meet someone in person and after a few hours you think to yourself, “Wow, this person sure brags a lot!” The braggers are out there online, but for some reason when we *read* bragging it doesn’t come off as badly as it does when we actually hear it. (Probably because we are reading the article in our own voice, not some shrill, non-stop talkinsons syndrome lunatic. …Which it’s quite possible the author could be.)
Author: Look at my cupcakes! Aren’t my cupcakes, great? Here’s a photo from another angle. …And another one with hubby who loves them!
Me: Yeah. …That’s good. Whatever.
It also appears that people get easily offended and angry on the Internet and go off no reason whatsoever. Girl who’s a mechanic and rides a Harley will get angry at cupcake lady for making women seem too domestic. Cupcake lady thinks mechanic girl’s kids would be better off if their mother didn’t smoke pot and was around more. People are mental. …Be all over each others’ business.
I think you have a conflicted relationship with your own feminist ideas. On the one hand, you say “the feminist in me rallies agains that shit [staying at home]“, but then a few paragraphs later you claim that feminists fought for women to have choices. So, do feminists rally against housewives or do they advocate for choice? Because these are mutually exclusive – it can’t be both.
You’re 25, so not having a totally clear picture of your identity as a feminist is healthy and normal – no one has that type of stuff figured out in her mid-twenties. But if you’re going to attack a whole genre of blogger (a genre I happen to hate, but for totally different reasons than you outline here) you would be more convincing if you adhered to a more clear set of personal principles as you create your argument.
Thanks for keeping me on my toes, I agree it’s not my best written argument. Thank you for understanding
What do you dislike about lifestyle blogs?
I struggle with “lifestyle blogs”. Part of me wishes I had the, “perfect life” that some of them portray, and part of me is terrified of that perfectness. Either way I love it that you have the guts to put yourself out there and write something that you knew might ruffle feathers. I enjoyed reading all of the comments and dialogue the post has created.
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I love lifestyle blogs! A very popular lifestyle blogger has addressed the issue of her blog being mostly the “fluff” that you mention above- clothing, decor, cooking, her kids and the like. She said that this was absolutely true- her blog is like looking at a scrapbook of her life. She also said that it’s not quite fair to judge her solely by her blog, because of the (very) limited look that you get from reading it.
To me, lifestyle blogs are like magazines. Glossy, fun reads with pretty pictures. But it’s not because the women who write them don’t have any substance, it’s because these are the things they choose to share about their life. And the blogs that have more substance to them (in my mind) are a separate category all together. As to the fact that they never discuss sex, I always assume that they’re respecting the privacy of their partner.
And maybe the lifestyle blogging community is one that really embraces the SAHM more than the offline world, so we see more of a celebration for that lifestyle online than in our everyday lives?
But I agree with you that there is a subset of the blogging community that is trying to take women back 50 years…the fundy Christian blogs. Seriously- they think feminism is the biggest evil in our society today. I used to try to connect with those bloggers and share my views as a very liberal and very Christian woman, but it always wound up making me stabby mad and (I assume) made them incredibly self-righteous because they “won” every discussion.
Sara (SWR) recently posted..Hello, again
“I either buy it, which is bad for my wallet, or feel sad I can’t have it, which is bad for my self-esteem. And then I eat something. It’s just how I work.”
Story of my life! I have to intentionally avoid reading about things that I don’t intend to buy / do / emulate, because after reading about it, I will (inevitably) want it.
Paula @ Afford Anything recently posted..Start Working, and the Muse Will Appear
I know the kinds of blogs you’re talking about. But I think it’s a mistake to put all women lifestyle bloggers in that same category. Some of my favorite lifestyle blogs — many of which are decorating blogs — I love to read because the bloggers are transparent and funny and real.
I, too, thought Leah made a great point about certain travel and minimalist and health blogs. And I would add to that some (not all) personal finance blogs as well. Some portray a very idealized financial picture (Look how little we live on! Look how little debt we have!) and are quite judgmental of others, whose financial reality they have no way of knowing (My overextended neighbor drives a brand new SUV but I’ll have the last laugh in my beater when they’re eating dog food in retirement.)
Finally, I realize some are depressed by Pinterest and lifestyle blogs — feeling they’re never have enough money or measure up — but on the contrary, I find the ones I read inspiring. And the ones I don’t? I just don’t give them much thought at all.
Interesting food for thought in this post!
Julie @ The Family CEO recently posted..Weekend Reading: Hooked on Houses Edition
Geez – sorry for all the typos. I must learn to proofread before hitting send.
Julie @ The Family CEO recently posted..Weekend Reading: Hooked on Houses Edition